Race-track



l(Hummm.)

v5.13. DODGE.

RAGE TRACK.

,No. 529,162. n f Patented Nov. 1s, 1894.'

'WIZ/VESSES Q I l/E/VZ'OZ? JOSIAII B. DODGE, OF SEDALIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS PATENT FFICE..

FLEMING, OF GRAHAM, MISSOURI.

RACE-TRAC SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,162, dated November 13, 1894.

'Application filed September 6, 1894. Serial No. 522,235. (No model.)

To @ZZ whont t may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOSIAH B. DODGE, of Sedalia, county of Pettis, and State 0f Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Race-Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

In starting horses in a race, it is a well known fact, that great trouble, delayiand annoyance are caused bythe difficulty in securing an even start of the animals.

Various mechanical contrivances have been devised and while to an extent they have answered to cause the horses to start at the same time, their use-has been objectionable on account of their location on the track interfering with and obstructing the horses at the nishf To overcome the above objections, I form my improved track with a branch extending preferably at a tangent to the same and locate on this branch a starting device of any suitable form, this arrangement avoiding the obstruction of the main track at the finish. My invention consists further in a starting branch joining the main track adjacent to the judges stand and this with or without the employment of a starting device.

My invention further consists of an improved device `for causing Y the animals to start at the same time, said device comprising two or more stalls or compartments arranged side by side, containing at the rear entrances for the horses and communicating at the front with the track, said stalls being separated by the partitions to prevent the horses occupying the same from observing one another.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1- is a diagrammatical view of my improved track. Fig. 2- is an enlarged top plan view of the starting device. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation onthe line a-a of Fig. l-.

Referring to the drawings: 1 represents a track preferably of the continuous circular or elliptical form; 2- thefgrand stand at the outside of the track and 3- the judgesstand located opposite the grand stand at the inner side of the track.

At a point preferably between the judges stand and the spectators stand I provide a branch starting track 4, extending at a tangent to the main track and forming a continuation of the same. The purpose of this starting track is to admit of the use of devices for insuring an even start of the horses, without obstructing the track and interfering with the horses at the inish.

A starting device of any suitable and appropriate form may be located on the branch track at its junction with the main track or at a point in advance of the same. Under this arrangement, the horses may be started from the branch track at one time, and at the Iinish they will have a clear unobstructed space in front of the judges and spectators stands.

In the drawings I have represented an improved device for starting the horses, consisting of a series of stalls 5, arranged side by side in the branch track at a point just in advance of its junction with the main track. The stalls are divided by partitions 6 high enough to prevent the horses occupying them from observing one another. At the rear the stalls are formed with entrance doors '7, While at the front they are open and communicate directly with the track. In starting the horses with this device the animals are entered at the rear into the stalls and at the signal they proceed on to the tangential starting track,

thence to the main track traveling around the samev and returning to the unobstructed space in front of the judges stand at the finish By the use of these stalls as described, the horses being unable to observe one another Will remain comparatively quiet so that when the signal is given they will all emerge from their respective stalls at substantially the same time, thus insuring an even start.

It will be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the combination of my improved track with the peculiar form of starting device. As far as the function of the starting branch is concerned any form of starting contrivance may be employed and any means may be used to insure an even start. The essence of the invention in this respect resides in the provision of a starting track or branch forming a continuation of the main track thus admitting of the employ- 3. In a race track the combination of a main continuous way, a branch track form ing a continuation of the same and a series of stalls separated by partitions and located on the branch track, said stalls provided at their rear With openings for the entrance of the horses and communicating at their front with the track substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 13th day of August, 1,894, in the presence of two attesting Witnesses.

.IOSIAI-I B. DODGE.

Witnesses:

E. A. BLAKEMORE, W. M. FENWICK. 

